Services

We work together with our clients to design and deliver trainings that work for all professionals. For example, one approach is to design overlapping trainings in which attorneys and physicians train together to learn about both collaborative law and disclosure. Another approach we use is to facilitate dialogue among stakeholders. Both formats are intended, in part, to open channels of communication between physicians and attorneys, who, historically, have often been adversaries, to overcome misunderstandings, to understand adverse medical events from many perspectives, and to begin to build a sense of community. We view both processes as building a community of cooperation.

Presentations and Dialogues:

Kathleen Clark has convened and facilitated dialogue on collaborative law in medical error situations, which have variously included the following stakeholders: attorneys for plaintiffs and defendants, patients, patient advocates, physicians, psychologists, risk managers, insurers, general counsel for hospitals, medical ethicists, and others. These events were in

San Diego, CA (October, 2006);

Fort Myers, FL (January, 2007);

Toronto, Canada (October, 2007); and

Oakland, CA (April, 2008).

In addition, Kathleen led a training in collaborative practices in healthcare and designed and facilitated a healthcare dialogue in Cork, Ireland. Participants included physicians, attorneys, regulators, risk managers, hospital administrators, and others. We, the participants, discussed how to bring collaborative practices to their professions and how to build collaborations among them, such that they know and respect each other, and can call on each other when issues, such as adverse medical events, arise. With established relationships in place, they can move quickly to respond to issues as they arise.

I continue to work with the participants in Ireland to continue developing collaborative practices through articles, discussions, and reaching out to others who work in these various professions.

Presented on dialogue in health care at Werner Institute for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution, Creighton University Conference on Creating Cultures of Engagement in Health Care International Conference and Dialogue, June, 2008;

Presented at Association for Conflict Resolution (ACRNC) conference, Oakland, CA, March 19, 2011 on Civil Collaborative Law, focusing on collaborative law in medical error situations; and

Presented, in Ireland, both a workshop on collaborative practices in medical error, as well as a dialogue among many healthcare stakeholders about building community and working together. (April 17 and 18, 2012).